Compositions containing monosodium



United States Patent COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING MON OSODIUIW GLUTAMATE John Wagner, Cicero, [1].; Anna Wagner Starosta, administratrix of said John Wagner, deceased, assignor to International Minerals and Chemical Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York No Drawing. Application July 17, 1950, Serial No. 174,355

6 Claims. (Cl. 13117) The present invention relates to tobacco compositions containing mono-sodium glutamate and more particularly to a composition comprising a major amount of tobacco and a minor amount of monosodium glutamate, and proc esses for its production.

In recent years the use of monosodium glutamate as a flavor intensifier for food products has become quite common. Monosodium glutamate is thought to stimulate the taste buds and thus to bring out the natural flavor of foods.

It is an object of this invention to produce a composition comprising essentially tobacco and monosodium glutamate.

Another object is to provide a method for impregnating tobacco with monosodium glutamate.

These objects and other objects of the instant invention will become apparent upon a fuller understanding of the invention as hereinafter set forth.

It has been discovered that when a small amount of monosodium glutamate is added to tobacco, the resulting tobacco composition has greatly improved characteristics when used for smoking, chewing or as snuif.

Sufficient monosodium glutamate is added to the tobacco so that the final tobacco product contains between about 0.01% and about 0.20% by weight of monosodium glutamate.

There are several methods available for impregnating the tobacco with monosodium glutamate. Since methods of processing tobacco vary depending on the type of tobacco product to be produced and also vary from one manufacturer to another, the best method of impregnating the tobacco with monosodium glutamate is the one which may be most efliciently incorporated into the individual processing method. The instant process contemplates that at some point in the production of the various tobacco products, such as tobacco for cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing and snufi, the tobacco is treated with monosodium glutamate. For example, in the manufacture of cigarettes conventional processing of the tobacco usually includes the following steps: the cured tobacco leaves are conditioned or humidified to prevent brittleness, cut into the desired size and shape, and treated with a casing liquor which contains a humectant, such as glycerine, and other casing ingredients, such as salt, sugar, syrups, and/ or licorice. The tobacco is then dried to the desired degree and may then be treated with a flavoring liquor which contains aromatic flavoring agents, such as rum, vanilla, cordials, perfumes and menthol. The finished tobacco is then made up into cigarettes. Both the casing liquor and flavoring liquor are aqueous solutions and monosodium glutamate may be included in either or both of these liquors.

In another embodiment moist tobacco is sprayed with powdered monosodium glutamate. For example, this may be done after treatment of the tobacco with the casing liquor or the flavor liquor while the tobacco is still moist.

In making cigars, glue is used for putting on the wrapper and for making the wrapper stick. The monosodium glutamate may be added to the glue in an amount sufficient to supply the desired concentration of monosodium glutamate to the finished cigar.

In another embodiment an aqueous solution containing 7 monosodium glutamate in the tobacco is not critical and amounts outside of the above mentioned range are within thecontemplation of the instant invention.

When tobacco is treated with monosodium glutamate the tobacco is milder, has a more pleasant taste, and

leaves no unpleasant after-taste in the mouth. No unpleasant odor is associated with the smoke.

In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, monosodium glutamate is dissolved in an aqueous solution in sufficient amount to obtain between about 0.01% and about 0.2% by weight of monosodium glutamate in the final tobacco product. If the tobacco is to be used for chewing tobacco it is preferred that the final tobacco contains between about 0.1% and about 0.2% by weight of monosodium glutamate. If the final tobacco product is to be used for smoking it is preferred that the tobacco contain about 0.1 by weight of monosodium glutamate. The tobacco is sprayed or coated in any convenient manner with the solution containing the monosodium glutamate.

Having thus fully described the character of the invention, what is desired to be claimed and protected by Letters Patent is: p

1. A composition comprising smoking tobacco containing between about 0.01% and about 0.20% by weight of monosodium glutamate.

2. A composition comprising cigarette tobacco containing between about 0.01% and about 0.20% by weight of monosodium glutamate.

3. A composition comprising cigar tobacco containing between about 0.01% and about 0.20% by weight of monosodium glutamate.

4. A composition comprising smoking tobacco containing a small amount of monosodium glutamate.

5. A composition comprising cigarette tobacco containing a small amount of monosodium glutamate.

6. A composition comprising cigar tobacco containing a small amount of monosodium glutamate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 183,466 Pearl Oct. 17, 1876 865,026 Ellis Sept. 3, 1907 1,219,856 Parker Mar. 20, 1917 1,407,274 Hibbert Feb. 21, 1922 1,842,266 Hicks Jan. 19, 1932 1,954,109 Whitaker Apr. 10, 1934 2,152,602 Ott Mar. 28, 1939 2,331,830 Garber Oct. 12, 1943 2,375,165 Nees et a1. May 1, 1945 OTHER REFERENCES Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, October 1929, vol. 21, No. 10, pages 984 to 987, inclusive.

Aries et al.: Chemical Engineering, page 285 of the December 1949 issue.

Food Packer, page 30, July 1948 issue. 

1. A COMPOSITION COMPRISING SMOKING TOBACCO CONTAINING BETWEEN ABOUT 0.01% AND ABOUT 0.20% BY WEIGHT OF MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE. 